Twin Covered Bridges

If you're looking for one of the most unique covered bridges in the world, you can find it in the county of Columbia in Pennsylvania.

The county boasts 23 covered bridges, the third most of any county in Pennsylvania, which has more than any other state. However none of the bridges are as exquisite as the East and West Paden covered bridges. These two unmatched bridges were built in 1850 by W.C. Pennington. Both of these magnificent marvels are the Burr-Arch design, a very popular design used on numerous covered bridges in Pennsylvania. The twin bridges were named for a local sawmill operator named John Paden. The two bridges cross over the Huntington creek. The smaller East Paden bridge, measures only 79 feet long, while the larger West Paden bridge measures 103 feet long. Both bridges were built for a paltry $720.00. The bridges were used for transportation purposes for a little over a century.

In 1962 the county began preservation efforts after the bridges began to weather away. By 1963, they were left open only for foot traffic.

The original bridges were restored and left intact until 45 years later when in 2006 a torrential flood washed away the original West Paden covered bridge. The county struck back as hard as the storm that washed away their history. In 2008 the West Paden bridge was finished and re-opened. Thanks to the hard work of the county these engineering marvels are still standing for all to enjoy. The twin bridges are now a part of a county park and have the distinction of being the only twin covered bridges in the United States.

The park is quite peaceful and serene, allowing you to emancipate yourself in all the surrounding beauty, both natural and man made!

Zine featuring Twin Bridges and other local Outta the Way spots.
Video of Twin Bridges

Haunted VanSant Covered Bridge

Hidden on the back roads of Bucks county, Pennsylvania sits a seemingly pleasant covered bridge. Truth is the VanSant covered bridge is thought to be one of the most haunted spots in the commonwealth. Many paranormal investigators have spent late evenings here gathering data. Throughout the bridge cold spots have been felt, cries heard, and apparitions spotted. So why all the paranormal activity?

Many urban legends haunt this bridge. It's said a man murdered a woman and her child on the bridge and now she haunts the area mourning the loss of her child. Others think it's the murderer who's still hanging around, literally. There have been reports of groups seeing an apparition hanging by a noose from the rafters. It was thought the murderer was subsequently hung here for his heinous crime.

Other local legend's say the woman drowned her children herself, after giving birth at a young age and out of wedlock. This particular legend is fairly common folklore for many rural covered bridges. Earning them the nickname "cry-baby bridges," this is due to the fact it's said you can hear baby's cries as you pass over the bridge.

The bridge is also very close to Washington's Crossing, which played a major role in the Revolutionary War, though many men perished in this area due to influenza and other illnesses. So is it the spirit of a murdered woman folks see, and the cries of her children they hear? Or maybe a criminal who was hung here for his past crimes, or perhaps it's the spirit of a fallen soldier crying out his last gasps of life vowing to never be forgotten.

Haunted and Historic in Bucks County Pennsylvania

In the May zine of Outta the Way we'll take you on a historic and haunted trip through Bucks county, Pennsylvania. We'll take you on a tour through historic Washington's crossing, on the banks of the Delaware river. Learn all about the significance of the town and what it was like before a famed General put it on the map.

We'll take a stroll through a covered bridge shrouded in mystery and despair. Tales of hangings and drownings surround the bridge. Maybe you'll hear the screams of children as you pass through, or perhaps see glimpses of a hangman's noose dangling from the rafters above.

We'll even stop into a haunted inn, where you can spend the evening if your so brave enough. If you're susceptible enough you may catch the faint smell of lavender from a previous owner, who's been dead for over 100 years. You may even be paid a visit in the middle of the night from a brave, fallen Revolutionary war hero. Don't say you weren't warned. Now get outta the way 'cause we're going Outta the Way!

Longest Covered Bridge in the World

In volume 9 of Outta the Way, we take you on a tour of the Lancaster County Covered Bridges. At one time Lancaster had the longest covered bridge in the world. Built in 1814, the bridge spanned over the Susquehanna River between the towns of Columbia and Wrightsville. The bridge was 5,690 feet long and built mainly of wood and stone. Tolls for the bridge at the time were $1.50 for a wagon and 6 horses or $0.06 a person.

It stood for 14 years before being destroyed by ice and high waters on February 5, 1832. In 1834 a second covered bridge was opened, using as much as they could salvage from the first bridge. The bridged was later burned during the Civil War by Union militiamen to prevent Confederate soldiers from advancing into Wrightsville. Afterwards the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company appealed to the Federal Government for reimbursement of damages sustained, but none were ever paid.

A third covered bridge was constructed in 1864, this time of stone, wood and steel. It was eventually destroyed by a hurricane in 1896. After the destruction of the third covered bridge, the idea was scrapped and a forth bridge was built. This time steel trusses were used. It was designed to withstand all the previous elements which had been so disastrous. This bridge eventually became used as strictly a railroad bridge until 1958. In 1963 the bridge was dismantled for scrap. The stone pieces still stand today just North of the Route 30 bypass, still offering us a glimpse back into the past.

Berks County,Pennsylvania

Volume 4 of Outta the Way is now available! We feature Berks County.

The intro:

This month will stir up the supernatural on a covered bridge, visit a miniature village, see the view that inspired it, get a taste of Japanese culture and learn how a Dreamland became a nightmare. So prepare to get outta the way, we're going outta the way!

Contact us or go to Kim's Etsy Store to get your copy!